Dear Readers,
It’s impossible to fully grasp food insecurity in Vermont without showing up and talking to people in pantries, churches and community centers across the state. During the government shutdown, when thousands of Vermonters faced a painful gap in benefits, the issue gained new urgency.
What I witnessed in recent weeks reminded me why this work matters, and why we depend on readers like you. Your support today powers fact-based local reporting and, through our partnership with the Vermont Foodbank, sends three meals to a neighbor.
In the Statehouse, I watched officials debate and approve a $6 million plan to help combat hunger. In the days that followed, I met Vermonters who still had to wait a week for that relief, and heard reports of people watering down meals or skipping them altogether to make food last. Often, people were willing to share their stories, generously offering a window into their hardships.
With federal food benefits to resume, but many challenges still ahead, I will continue to follow the impacts of state programs and federal changes to food assistance. I will keep showing up and listening, not just to lawmakers and judges, but also to those their decisions impact most.
This Thanksgiving, your donation powers this kind of reporting. Reporting grounded in facts, informed by real experiences, and freely available to everyone. And through VTDigger’s partnership with the Vermont Foodbank, your gift also sends three meals to a neighbor in need.
Reader support is what makes my reporting possible. Your donation today ensures we can keep covering the intersections of policy and community.
Thank you for supporting the work that keeps Vermonters informed, and for lending a helping hand to those who need it most this season.
Sincerely,
Theo Wells-Spackman
Wealth, poverty and inequality reporter, VTDigger
The donation of meals to the Vermont Foodbank is generously underwritten by The Richards Group so 100% of your gift to VTDiggers supports our newsroom.
